The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is standing at the crossroads after suffering a major electoral setback in Delhi assembly elections. The party’s supremo, Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia lost their seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking the end of AAP’s rule in the capital.
With the BJP securing a comfortable victory with 48 seats, AAP is now forced to transition from the ruling party to the opposition- a role it has never played before in the Delhi assembly. The pressing question now is whether AAP has a strong second line of leadership to navigate this crisis.
Over the years, Kejriwal has cultivated a leadership-centric model similar to what is seen in both the BJP and the Congress. However, while the BJP still has prominent figures like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and JP Nadda who can hold the fort, AAP’s leadership bench appears significantly weaker. In the Delhi Assembly, only two senior leaders, Gopal Rai and Atishi, remain to steer the party forward.
With Kejriwal out of power, the immediate challenge for AAP is to keep its flock together. The party faces internal disagreements, and there is a looming threat of MLAs switching sides. The selection of the Leader of the Opposition will be a crucial decision that could define AAP’s future course. Two key names are in contention- Atishi and Gopal Rai, both considered to be Kejriwal’s trusted aides.
Atishi played an instrumental role in shaping Delhi’s education model alongside Sisodia. Her administrative skills were evident when she was inducted into Kejriwal’s cabinet and later assumed key responsibilities in his absence.
Gopal Rai, on the other hand, has been a seasoned leader within AAP, serving as a minister and managing the party’s organizational affairs as the convener of Delhi AAP. His experience in handling the party’s grassroots structure makes him a strong contender for the role.
However, the person chosen for this position will have the difficult task of keeping the remaining 22 AAP MLAs together. The party is now vulnerable to internal cracks and external pressure, with the BJP expected to exploit any signs of weakness.
Atishi was recently entrusted with handling the government in Kejriwal’s absence, but the real power still rested with the party chief, who continued to issue directives from behind bars. This raises concerns over whether AAP’s leadership can function effectively without Kejriwal’s active involvement.
The road ahead for AAP is filled with uncertainties. While both Atishi and Rai have proven their capabilities, the party’s survival depends on whether its workers and leaders can rally behind someone other than Kejriwal.
AAP will need to tackle three major challenges in the coming months. The first is the decision on who will be the Leader of the Opposition. The selection will set the tone for AAP’s political strategy and its approach toward countering the BJP in the Assembly. The second is maintaining unity within the party. The possibility of MLAs defecting remains a serious concern, and ensuring cohesion within the party will be a tough task. The third is the establishment of a strong opposition presence. AAP’s core voters will closely watch whether the party can hold the BJP accountable both inside and outside the Delhi Assembly.
This is a defining moment for AAP. The party, once seen as an alternative to conventional politics, now faces an existential crisis. How it navigates this leadership vacuum, restructures its political strategy, and adapts to its new role in opposition will determine whether it remains a relevant force in Delhi politics or fades into oblivion.
